Halloween is the time of year when the veil between the spirit world and our own feels thin. We’ve curated a collection of spine-chilling events, ranging from costume contests for the littlest spooks to jump-scare experiences that will set even the bravest hearts racing. Join us as we explore the best things to do in Honolulu for Halloween—if you dare.
Family-Friendly Festivities
Finding things to do in Honolulu for Halloween can be tricky when you have little ones in tow. You don’t want to risk taking them to anything too scary. What’s more, some events are explicitly adults only. The following events are certified kid-friendly and suitable for all ages.
1. Histories & Mysteries Tour With the Honolulu Zoo Society
In the month leading up to Halloween, the Honolulu Zoo Society's Histories & Mysteries Tour offers a chance to explore the zoo’s supernatural side. You’ll hear thirteen spooky stories designed to tantalize and terrify.
Older kids love the chance to hear scary stories, but the Honolulu Zoo Society warns the tales may be too frightening for little ones under the age of eight. The tour involves walking between the zoo’s spookiest sites, so wear comfortable shoes.
2. Pumpkin Carving & Costume Contest at Ward Village
Ward Village offers wholesome fun for the whole family with its annual pumpkin carving and costume contest. Typically held on the weekend closest to Halloween, this daytime event promises all treats, and no tricks.
Sweet treats provided at the event in past years have included delicious donuts. You can also visit the pumpkin patch at Aloun Farms to pick your pumpkin. We're sure the one you bring home will make the perfect jack-o'-lantern.
Plenty of activities, like face painting, Halloween photo booths, and caricature drawings, add to the fun. Dress in your spookiest costumes and come out for a spectacular time.
3. Kapolei Shopping Center Trick-or-Treating
Look out for family-friendly Halloween events at Kapolei Shopping Center. This safe environment allows kids to experience trick-or-treating and other fun Halloween activities.
You don't have to sign up. Just head to the shopping center dressed in your spookiest attire. Participating retailers hand out treats to all the little ghouls who visit. You can get a treat bag to decorate, along with free mini pumpkins.
The exact range of activities provided may vary each year, but retailers usually go all out to ensure kids have as much fun as possible. Expect crafts, temporary tattoos, costume contests, and photo opportunities. It’s your chance to make this Halloween a family event to remember.
4. Kailua Town Seek & Treat: The Great Pumpkin Hunt
Kids can have fun hunting pumpkins at the Kailua Town Great Pumpkin Hunt event. In 2023, this event ran for ten days leading up to Halloween, and it was such a success that we’re sure it'll repeat.
You must decide which day to attend and go to Lau Hala Shops. You'll find the instructions and the first clue in the lobby. One clue leads to another, steering kids on a self-guided quest to discover all the pumpkins they can.
If your little pumpkin hunter makes it to the end of the treasure trail, they’ll receive a treat bag and a token, which secures a prize from the Great Pumpkin Prize Machine.
Grown-ups are encouraged to participate, too! For them, there’s even bigger prizes are up for grabs. You can win a package of gift cards and other goodies worth up to $250. Even if you don't win, there's loads of fun to be had.
Note that you’ll need a smartphone to read QR codes and participate in the hunt. This is no leisurely event. You'll have to scramble to find all the pumpkins before 4 p.m. when things wrap up.
5. Spooky Life Park at Sea Life Park Hawaii
Every year, Sea Life Park becomes Spooky Life Park to celebrate Halloween. With a unique theme each year, the event focuses on providing families with a fun day out. Kids can have their faces painted, marvel at magicians’ tricks, and get up close with the mermaids rumored to swim around Hawaii’s shores.
Some education about marine life is even snuck into the experience, making this a fantastic learning opportunity for kids of all ages. Children are encouraged to wear costumes for a chance to win great prizes in the contest. Dig out your best mermaid tail and come along to try your hand at aquatic pumpkin carving.
Nightlife and Party
The end of October is a great time for adults to dress up, enjoy a drink or two, and get ready to party. Here's one of the best bars in Waikiki, known for putting on a fantastic Halloween event.
6. Halloween Bash at Tiki’s Grill & Bar
The Halloween Bash at Tiki’s Grill & Bar promises to be a rocking party. Two live bands start playing early in the evening, followed by DJs spinning tracks until late into the night.
It's one of our favorite places to go because there's always plenty of music to get your skeletal toes tapping and your ghoulish chains rattling. Special offers on drinks mean you’ll have all the spirits, wine, beer, and soft drinks you need to celebrate Halloween in style.
If you make a dinner reservation, you'll get free admission to the party. We highly recommend this option, as the food is delicious. You'll have to buy a ticket if you don't want a meal. In previous years, tickets were less expensive if purchased in advance, so keep an eye on the venue's website.
We love the macadamia nut-crusted fish, which envelops the catch of the day in a satisfying crunchy coating. The Thai-style shrimp puttanesca is also a great option if you crave some pre-party pasta.
Drinks flow freely here, especially on Halloween, so it’s a good idea to think about how you’ll get home safely. One option is to stay at The Twin Fin Hotel at a special discounted rate, so you don't have to drive anywhere. If you already have a designated driver lined up, take advantage of the free valet parking.
Haunted Attractions
Dressing up in your Halloween best is fun, but what if you want to experience the thrill of real terror? Forget scary movies and spooky stories. These haunted attractions will have you shaking with fear.
7. Hawaii Haunted Plantation
Prepared to be scared! When we say the Hawaii Haunted Plantation isn't for the faint-hearted, we aren't kidding. It's one of the scariest places we've ever been. As you walk through the haunted village, more than 60 actors wearing professional-quality makeup try their hardest to make you jump out of your skin.
So many people have fainted that the organizers have had to issue warnings telling visitors to stay away if they have heart conditions, are prone to seizures, or are pregnant. No kids under 13 are allowed, no matter how brave they insist they are.
If you decide to visit the Haunted Plantation, you can expect the spirits of old Hawaii to chase and taunt you. It’s a truly terrifying experience, with intense sounds, strobe lights, fog, and other effects all adding to the creepiness.
If you’re the kind of thrill-seeker who feels bored by horror movies that have your friends hiding behind the sofa, Haunted Plantation is for you. Book your tickets in advance and prepare for your life's fright. We hope you make it out alive.
8. Dead End at Aloha Stadium
The Oahu Haunted House event is a drive-through Halloween experience that is definitely not kid-friendly. During the twenty-minute drive, you can expect to see blood, gore, and more.
Some characters you’ll meet include killer clowns, deranged doctors, and monsters from the worst nightmares of a twisted mind. The terror is real, but you’re perfectly safe inside your car. All the scary scenes take place while your car is parked.
While driving between them, you can try to settle your nerves before the next unforgettable experience. The Haunted House experience takes place at Aloha Stadium in October. Lock the doors and get ready for the drive of your life.
9. Skeleton Key Hawaii: Night Terrors
Skeleton Key Hawaii: Night Terrors is a Halloween event designed to get your adrenaline pumping and leave you feeling exhilarated. Actors from KOA Theater work together to scare you in more ways than you ever thought possible. The sets and lighting are impeccably designed to make the whole experience as creepy as possible.
In 2023, Skeleton Key Hawaii moved from its previous location to the former Inspiration furniture store in the Pearlridge Center. Visitors were amazed at how this once mundane abandoned location had transformed into a truly terrifying setting.
The event is only recommended for children aged 12 and over, as little ones might get too frightened. A milder version of the experience is available during keiki hours, so your little daredevils can experience the thrill for themselves.
Tickets for these events are typically less expensive when bought in advance. Check local listings to determine when the next event is scheduled so you can be first in line.
Dare to Be Dazzled!
Adventure awaits in Honolulu with high-energy Cirque du Soleil shows. Dive into a world of acrobatics and wonder.
Cultural Tales and Legends
Halloween is traditionally a time to connect with the dead, including our ancestors who have passed away. Attend a Halloween event with a strong cultural focus to learn about the history of Hawaii and the people who have called it home. Want to learn more about the island’s traditions? Check out our guide to the perfect Honolulu Christmas.
10. Frightening Stories With Lopaka Kapanui
Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins are great on Halloween, but what about the uniquely creepy tales that arise from Hawaii’s history? These are the stories Lopaka Kapanui tells during his ghost tours.
This native Hawaiian storyteller leads visitors to the spookiest places in Oahu, where he passes on the legends he heard as a little boy. The sites you’ll visit on these tours aren’t just spooky but sacred. Native Hawaiians, such as Lopaka, say prayers as they enter them to ask for forgiveness or protection.
You may not be startled by jump scares, but you might find the hairs on the back of your neck rising as Lopaka’s words paint an unsettling picture.
You’re welcome to take photos during a Mysteries of Hawai‘i experience. Some tours involve a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Please check the tour you plan to attend to see whether it suits kids, as some are geared toward adults.
Lopaka has been making a living from storytelling for nearly twenty-five years. He continues gathering stories people have shared with him, becoming a living storybook for everything spooky on the island. His business is the only ghost tour company owned and operated by a native Hawaiian.
Where Shadows Linger and Memories Haunt Oahu's Halloween Nights
Halloween is a time to take in spooky stories from the past, where ghosts and demons come to life. If these events leave you craving more stories to set your heart racing, book tickets for one of our shows in Honolulu.
Our acrobats perform death-defying moves that give you the adrenaline surge you crave. All our shows feature captivating tales told through choreography, music, and visuals. Watch colorful stories unravel as dancers leap and soar, and special effects elevate the experience. It's an experience you'll never forget.